Hyundai Celebrates Clean Air Month by Joining 'Rally Thru the Valley'

- Hyundai Santa Fe FCEV Will be Displayed During Three-day California Fuel Cell Partnership Rally from Sacramento to Los Angeles -

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 14 -- In recognition of Clean Air Month, Hyundai Motor Company's state-of-the-art Santa Fe FCEV will participate in the "Rally Thru The Valley: 2003 California Fuel Cell Partnership Road Rally" beginning today at the California State Capitol building in Sacramento. The Santa Fe FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) will join fuel cell vehicles from five other carmakers, as well as representatives from energy providers, government agencies and fuel cell manufacturers in the three-day road rally with stops in Stockton, Ripon, Merced, Bakersfield and Fresno before finishing in Los Angeles on May 16.

Many of the featured Road Rally events are open to media and the public, offering central valley communities a sneak peak at fuel cell vehicles. For a complete schedule of events, go to http://www.cafcp.org/event_roadrally03_pubevent.html .

"Hyundai is committed to technology advancement that will benefit the environment," said Dr. Won Suk Cho, President, Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc., which is responsible for alternative fuel research in the United States. "The California Fuel Cell Partnership's Rally Thru the Valley is an ideal opportunity to publicly demonstrate the strides Hyundai has made in designing a commercially viable, zero-emission fuel cell vehicle."

The Hyundai Santa Fe FCEV is a veteran Road Rally participant, with outstanding performances in the California Coast 2002 -- CaFCP Road Rally in September 2002, and the Michelin Challenge Bibendum in October 2001. Hyundai is an active participant in public displays of fuel cell mobility through the California Fuel Cell Partnership.

Hyundai Motor Company became the sixth automotive member of the California Fuel Cell Partnership in June 2000. The CaFCP is a public-private venture of automakers, energy and fuel cell technology companies, and government agencies working together to advance the commercialization of fuel cell-powered vehicles. The partnership is headquartered in West Sacramento, Calif. and over the next few years, more than 60 fuel cell vehicles will undergo road testing in real-world driving conditions. Since joining the partnership, Hyundai Motor Company has been an active participant in the effort to commercialize alternative-energy, environmentally friendly vehicles and helped to set the standard for fuel cell vehicles.

Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. It is responsible for the technical development of automobiles in North America, including governmental certification issues. Its headquarters are located in Ann Arbor, Mich., with two branch offices in the Los Angeles area.